This paper describes the origins, evolution of Quality Function Deployment and its transfer to the West. Following a comprehensive review of the literature and how QFD has been defined, and applied, the paper analyses the critical factors which impinge on QFD implementation success. A discussion which covers the enabling criteria found to be inherent in Japanese applications is contrasted with the Western approaches documented hitherto. In particular the Company Wide Quality Control (CWQC) approach in Japan versus the emerging concept of Total Quality Management and their impact on QFD implementation. A critical analysis of the main differences isolated from the review of the literature and which characterise the Japanese method of QFD implementation which is leading, and The Western approaches which appear to be lagging is included in the paper, together with some useful conclusions: